Titus Eleweke, South East Editor Editor
FirstPower Nigeria Limited has declared war on an Anambra State–based journalist, Mr. Okechukwu Obeta, over a report he wrote concerning a ₦2.1 million levy imposed on residents to replace a transformer in Amudo Community, Awka South Local Government Area.
Obeta, a correspondent with Leadership Newspapers, authored a story titled “FirstPower Levies Awka Village ₦2.1 Million for Replacement of Vandalised Facilities.”
In the report, he detailed how customers in the community were required to contribute funds toward replacing damaged power infrastructure.
Following publication, the management of FirstPower, led by Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, reportedly ordered a power outage in Amudo Community and summoned residents to the company’s office in Awka. Obeta was also summoned to attend and he attended.
The purpose of the meeting, according to sources, was to question why Obeta who is also a resident of the community,wrote the story.
During the interaction between FirstPower officials, community members, and the journalist, residents reportedly denied commissioning or asking Obeta to publish the report.
This development raises serious concerns about press freedom and whether either FirstPower or the Amudo Community has the authority to dictate what a journalist deems newsworthy or in the public interest.
The Amudo village leaders allegedly threatened Obeta, ordering him to retract the story warning him that they do not want anything that will cause strained relationship between their village and FirstPower. They particularly lamented that their area has been suddenly put into darkness because of the report.
“You are just a tenant in our village. You can relocate to any other place, but, are the ones living here.
We don’t want you to use our village to practice journalism. Go and retract that report. We don’t want any problem with FirstPower”, one of the village leaders warned Obeta.
The journalist has described the development as a grave threat to his safety and professional independence.
Disturbed by the situation, Obeta called the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) in Anambra State, on phone and formally notified the agency of the alleged intimidation and threats from FirstPower’s management.
According to Obeta, his life is now in danger as a result of the incident.
He emphasized that the report was harmless and focused on a legitimate issue affecting residents, noting that he personally contributed ₦5,000 toward the transformer replacement as levied by the village leadership.
He stated that if anything happens to him, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor and the staff of FirstPower should be held responsible.
Obeta further questioned the company’s actions, particularly the decision to cut power supply to the community as a means of compelling residents to attend the meeting at their office.
He described FirstPower’s action as deliberately taken to incite the villagers against him.
“This appears to be a strategic move by FirstPower to coerce residents into denying that they were demanded to pay money for the resuscitation of the transformer.
However, I am glad that the community agreed to continue contributing funds to fix the transformer.” he said.
Obeta in a statement titled the Burden of Being a Journalist: FirstPower Summons Amudo Village Leadership Against Me said :
Following FirstPower’s meeting with its customers and other stakeholders on Wednesday, 18th March 2026, at King David Hotel, Awka, I have come under intense pressure.
On Thursday, 19th March 2026, the Chairman of Amudo Village, Chief Patrick Afam Nwanna, informed me that the village had been plunged into darkness allegedly because of my report concerning FirstPower.
He stated that the village leadership had just visited the FirstPower office prior to calling me and that, after discussions with company officials, they were asked to return later at 3:00 p.m.
Shortly before my conversation with him, I received a call from a woman who identified herself as calling from the FirstPower office in Awka.
When I later honoured the 3:00 p.m. appointment at their office, she was introduced to me as the company’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).
Upon my arrival, the leadership of Amudo Village, led by the chairman, was also present.
The Managing Director (MD) of FirstPower opened the meeting by stating that its purpose was to verify my report presented during the stakeholders’ meeting at King David Hotel.
Specifically, he sought confirmation from the village leadership on whether it was true, as reported by me, that the company’s management had demanded money from the village to resuscitate the vandalised Ifite Road transformer.
The MD further disclosed that, following my report, he had directed that electricity supply to Amudo Village be disconnected in order to compel the village leadership to appear before the company.
He also stated that FirstPower spent approximately ₦4 million to replace the armoured cable and described it as a serious reputational risk if it were believed by the public or the company’s top management that villagers paid for the transformer’s restoration.
In response, the Chairman of Amudo Village denied that FirstPower demanded money from the village for the repair of the vandalised transformer. However, he admitted that the village levied its residents in relation to the transformer project.
According to him, about ₦600,000 was raised, which was used to install a CCTV camera and to provide refreshments for the FirstPower technicians who carried out the repairs.
Contradicting this figure, another member of the village leadership stated that approximately ₦750,000 was spent, including funds used to purchase bolts required for fixing the transformer.
Following these statements, the MD insisted that I must retract my report and issue an apology to the company, warning that FirstPower would employ all lawful means to compel compliance if I refused.
At this point, the Amudo Village leaders requested a brief private session with me. We stepped out of the conference hall for this discussion.
During the private meeting, the village leaders blamed me for publishing the report. They argued that I should have verified the information with them before going to press, given that the matter concerned their community. They further complained that my report had led to the disconnection of electricity in the village.
I responded by reminding them that, as a journalist, I am not required to seek permission from any individual or group before publishing a report.
They warned me against using their village as a platform for practicing journalism and expressed concern that my actions had strained their relationship with FirstPower.
They emphasized that the continued blackout in the village was a direct consequence of my report.
They also pointed out that I am a tenant in the village and could relocate if I wished, whereas they, as indigenes, would bear the long-term consequences if FirstPower decided to permanently withhold electricity due to a damaged relationship.
When we returned to the conference hall, the MD requested feedback from the village leaders regarding our discussion. One of the leaders stood up and began informing FirstPower management that they supported the demand that I retract my report.
Sensing that I might be coerced into retracting my report and issuing an apology, I quietly excused myself and left the meeting.
Also this is the Story by Okechukwu Obeta in full:
Residents of Amudo village Awka have been levied over N2.1 million for replacement of facilities vandalised in the Ifite Road transformer over than three weeks ago.
Already in consultation with the management of FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited a taskforce headed by the chairman of the village leadership, Mr. Afam Nwanna, has levied residents between N2,000 and N5,000 to raise the amount.
While every small shop operator and occupant of a one-room self-contain accommodation should pay N2,000, those whose shops are big and, occupants of between two, three bedroom apartments, and above, were levied N5,000 each.
But what the residents expressed as their most concern over the sad development during a meeting with the FirstPower’s head of communication, Mr. Izunna Okafor at the village hall, Amudo over the weekend, was, their strong suspicion that the vandalisation of the transformer is being carried out by unscrupulous elements in connivance with the staff members of the electricity company.
Some of the residents narrated that within the past two years the transformer had been vandalised three times, including the latest one that occured about three weeks ago, precisely in the night of 3rd February, 2026 while it was raining.
One of residents stated “Each time this transformer is vandalised, we will be asked to contribute money, and, after making the contribution, NEPA (EEDC that was the distribution company then) will not do anything to protect the transformer from being vandalised again by providing security around it.
“Now, FirstPower has taken over, and, the same thing is still happening.
“Now you people (FirstPower) has said that 20 metres of armoured cables that cost N95,000 per metre, and, other things should be purchased before you can give us light again, how much is Firstpower contributing to the whole amount?
“Or is it because you are enjoying monopoly that makes you don’t care since more than three weeks now we have been in darkness in this village?
“After all, you are making a lot of gains if there is light. You even give some people estimated bill. But since this problem happened you haven’t shown any concern”, the resident lamented.
Another resident argued, “MTN, Airtel, Glo, etc, has never told their customers to pay any levy because their facilities were vandalised.
“They know how to protect their facilities. But, it is only NEPA (EEDC or FirstPower) that will force customers to contribute money if anything happens to their transformer because you are enjoying monopoly.
“And we see you people carrying ladder moving round everywhere in a shuttle bus in the day and in the night, yet, you will tell people that thieves are vandalising transformers”, he argued further.
In his response the FirstPower’s communication head expressed sympathy with the residents for having been in darkness since over three weeks.
He, however, advised them to raise the N2.1million as requested so that their light could be restored soonest.
Izunna said that ordinarily, it is the responsibility of his company to replace the vandalised transformer, but, said that if left for the company to do, it might not happen soon, and, that might keep them in darkness indefinitely.
In his reaction, an Anambra-based human rights activist, and, co-ordinator of Recover Nigeria Project, Comrade Osita Obi, warned FirstPower to leave up to its civic responsibility of providing steady electricity services to the people of the state, or, face civil disobedience.
